Paul Mescal fronted Gladiator II, arriving over 24 years after its Oscar-winning original, picks up where the first film left off, bringing back both new and old faces. But stealing the limelight is Denzel Washington’s performance as Macrinus, a former slave to Rome who wants to gain complete control over the country in the sequel. His manipulative capacity, humour, and political nitpicking only elevates Ridley Scott’s spectacle. Meanwhile, the actor recently claimed his kissing scene with another man didn’t make it to the final cut of Gladiator II.
But the truth isn’t anywhere close. Director Ridley Scott in an interview with Variety suggested the kiss in question didn’t happen at all. “No, that’s bullsh*t,” said Scott before reportedly adding, “They never did. They acted the moment — it didn’t happen.”
Ridley Scott denies that a same-sex kiss with Denzel Washington was cut from ‘GLADIATOR 2’:
“No that’s bullshit… They acted the moment, it didn’t happen.”
(Source: @Variety) pic.twitter.com/Ol5pRHcjz8
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 19, 2024
Previously, in an interview with Gayety, Washington said, “I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken.” The actor continued, “I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet. I killed him about five minutes later. It’s ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the kiss of death.”
The plot of the sequel follows the life of Lucius aka Hanno, the son of Maximus who lives in the northern African Numidia, just outside the reach of the Roman Empire, until unfortunate events bring him back to his homeland, pushing him to become a gladiator. He reunites with his mother as new enemies await him in the ring.
Besides Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Connie Nielsen play pivotal roles in Gladiator II.
ALSO READ| ‘Gladiator II’ review: Paul Mescal’s landing into the goliath shadow of Russell Crowe is brutal and entertaining
